Roll-about stand for fans and similar appliances



Jan. 13, 1959 c. KRAUSS 2,868,558

ROLL-ABOUT sum: FOR FANS AND SIMILAR APPLIANCES Filed July 9, 1957 ROLL-ABOUT STAND FOR FANS AND SIMILAR APPLIANCES The present invention relates to a portable or mobile stand for supporting a fan or similar appliance and more particularly to a novel roll-about stand which gives greater mobility and ease of operation than prior units for the'same general purpose.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a novel roll-about or mobile stand for supporting a fan or the like in an adjusted elevated position and capable of easily and conveniently moving the fan from room to room and through narrow passageways. Unlike prior mobile supports for fans and the like, the present stand assembly provides a most rigid mounting in which the wheel base of the stand is substantially narrower than prior assemblies whereby its turning radius is substantially decreased, and is so constructed and designed as to provide for most effective weight distribution and manner of centering the load carried by the stand over the axle to thereby reduce the effort required in transporting or moving the assembly.

Mobile stands of prior construction and design generally employ a plurality of telescoping tubular members which bind unless accurately and carefully fitted and adjusted to maintain parallelism. This makes it extremely difiicult for one person to assemble and provide for the necessary adjustments. Furthermore, unlike such prior devices, the present unitconsists of a simple and economical assembly which provides for full height and tilting adjustment and, when adjustment is required or desired, such adjustment may be quickly and easily effected by one person and with little effort.

The present invention further comprehends a novel mobile or roll-about stand capable of being shipped in knocked-down condition and in space-saving containers permitting the disassembled stands to be shipped at reduced freight rates as well as by parcel post in view of such containers coming within parcel post limitations as to dimensions. In fact, in designing the present mobile stand, special attention was given to a knocked-down construction in which the component parts may be readily and easily assembled by one without previous experience or mechanical training or aptitude and in a relatively short time. p

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efiiciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the novel roll-about or mobile stand mounting a fan in adjustable position.

Fig. 2 is a View in end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary disassembled view, part in end elevation and part in vertical cross section, of the component parts of the novel mobile or roll-about stand, the section through the base of the stand being taken on the irregular line.3-3 of Fig. l, and viewed in the direction of thearrows.

United States Patent Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing the base of the assembled unit and the assembled foot rest and axle.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in end elevation of the base of the assembled unit, the view being taken from the end represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the disclosure and more particularly to the novel illustrative embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawing, the mobile or roll-about stand comprises a base or stretcher plate 10 formed of a metal a foot rest 16 also formed of a tubular section having an outwardly and downwardly, extending projection or depending foot 17 at each end adapted to receive a rubber cap 18. This foot rest, like the axle 13, is also provided with two pierced openings 14 and recesses 19 spaced apart and arranged intermediate its length. The openings 14 in the axle and the openings in the foot rest are so spaced as to be aligned with similarly spaced openings 21 in the flanged ends of the base 10, with each set of openings 21 and the recess 19 adapted to receive the ends of spaced legs 22 of a pair of inverted and substantially U-shaped uprights 23.

The uprights 23 are of similar construction and are interchangeable. Each leg at its lower or depending end is provided with an internally threaded insert 24 adapted to receive the threaded end of a relatively long screw 25 with one of said screws projecting through each opening 14 in the axle 13 and in the foot rest 16 and into an aligned threaded opening in an insert 24 in the end of a leg 22. However, before an upright 23 is affixed to the base or stretcher plate 10 and to the axle 13 at one end of the base and the other upright is aflixed to the foot rest 16 at the other end of the base, a sway brace or bracket 26 is slipped over each upright.

Each brace is of substantially Y-shape provided with elevated, spaced bifurcations or arms 27 and with each bifurcation provided with an opening whereby the bifurcations may 'be slipped over the spaced legs 22 of each upright 23 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. To properly locate these bifurcations 27 in position for assembly on the uprights 23, the outer side of each upright is notched at 28 and the opening in each bifurcation is provided with a fiat surface or edge for engagement in a notch 28 (Fig. 4). These sway braces in the assembled unit substantially reinforce the assembly and prevent. it from brought into registry With an opening or screw hole in an embossment 31 on the base 10. A screw32 is then inserted through the aligned openings in this lower end 29 and in the embossnient 31 on the, base and a washer and nut affixed to the ended the screw to anchor the parts in rigid assembly. i s i i aeeasss A wheel or roller 33, preferably of plastic or rubber composition, is then slipped over each end of the axle 13 and retained thereon by a machine screw 34 threaded into an end insert 15 and a washer 35. With all the screws tightened, the mobile or roll-about stand is now assembled and ready to receive the fan 36 or other appliance. This is accomplished by placing the assembled stand on one side resting upon awheel or roller 33 and upon a foot 18 of the foot rest 17 on the same side of the stand. The fan 36 is then placed between and bridging the two uprights 23 with the handle cf the fan in up position and the fan resting on its base 38.

To mount the fan for vertical and pivotal adjustment between the uprights 23, the stand is provided with a pair of adjustable clamping brackets 39. Each clamping bracket comprises a pair of complementary clamping sections 41 adjustable relative to each other and each provided with a hub 42 and oppositely extending, offset projections 43, the end of each projection provided with an inturned flange 44 the edge of which is of arcuate contour to partially encompass a leg 22 of an upright 23. A protective felt washer or other suitable material 45 is provided for each projection 43. To connect the legs 22 of each upright 23 to a side 46 of the fan housing, each clamping bracket 39 is provided with an adjusting screw 47 having an elongated threaded shank or stud 48 adapted to project through aligned openings in the hubs 42 of the clamping sections 41 and into an opening in a side wall 4-6 of the fan housing.

A steel washer 49 is disposed between the knob 51 of the adjusting screw and the adjacent and outer clamping section 41, with the threaded end of the adjusting screw received in a nut or threaded retainer 52 in the fan housing, and a felt washer 50 is provided between the side 46 of the fan housing and the adjacent hub 42 of the clamping bracket 39. With each clamping bracket 39 and adjusting screw 47 assembled in the manner disclosed and with the fan 36 resting on the floor but before the adjusting screws are tightened, the fan is adjusted longitudinally of the uprights to the height desired, whereupon the knobs 51 are tightened and the entire assembly elevated to the upright and operative position shown in Fig. 1.

If additional height adjustment of the fan is desired or if the fan is to be lowered, the stand is again placed on its side with the base 38 of the fan 36 resting on the floor, and by rotating the knobs 51 and releasing the adjusting screws 47 the fan may be moved along the uprights 23 to the desired adjusted position in which it will be firmly held upon again tightening the knobs 51 of the adjusting screws. When properly adjusted along the uprights 23 and the stand again elevated to operative position, the fan may be supported in vertical position or tilted to the desired angle toward the floor or ceiling.

It is a simple matter to move the assembled unit about for all that is required is to tilt or pull the stand over on the axle end by grasping the upright at that end and blocking either of the wheels with the foot. The mobile stand and fan assembly may then be moved about with little effort as effective weight distribution is obtained by centering the load carried over the axle. Furthermore, by providing the stand with a relatively narrow wheel base that is substantially narrower than prior stands for this general purpose, its turning radius is substantially reduced whereby it is possible to move the fan through very narrow passageways or openings.

Having thus disclosed the invention, 1 claim:

1. A roll-about stand for a fan and the like, comprising a flat base having a down-turned flange and spaced openings at each end and a depending flange at each side thereof notched at its opposite ends, a foot rest conformably received in the underside of one of said down-turned flanges and an axle received in the other down-turned flange with said foot rest and axle extendt 4 ing across and their opposite ends projecting through said notches and beyond the opposite sides of said base, wheels on the end of said axle, an inverted U-shaped upright projecting upwardly from said base above each of said flanges including spaced legs with the depending ends of said legs received in the spaced openings in an end of said base, a sway brace having elevated spaced arms at one end each having an opening to receive a leg of an upright and an arm at the other end affixed to the base, means for attaching the lower end of each of one upright to the base and. foot rest and the lower end of each leg of the other uprightto the base and axle, and a clamping bracket slidably and adjustably mounted on each upright for mounting said fan in vertical adjustment along said uprights and for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis.

2. A rol -about stand for a fan and the like, comprising a base having a recessed depending extension at each end and depending sides each notched adjacent said ends, a foot rest partially encompassed and conformably received in the underside of one .of said extensions and in a notch in each of the depending sides at one end and an axle received in the other extension and in a notch V in each of the depending sides at the other end with said ioohrest and axle extending across and received in said notches in the depending sides with their opposite ends projecting beyond the opposite sides of said base, wheels on the end of said axle, an upright at each end of said base having spaced legs with the lower ends of said legs projecting through the recesses in' said base and said legs projecting upwardly from said base above each of said flanges, a Y-shaped bracket having spaced elevated arms at one end each having an opening to receive a leg of an upright and a depending arm at the other end afiixed to the base, means for attaching the lower end of each leg of one npright to the base and foot rest and the lower end of each leg of the other upright-to the base and axle, and means slidably and adjustably mounted on each upright for mounting said fan in adjustment along said uprights.

3. A mobile stand for supporting a fan or other appliance adapted to be moved about for use at various locations, comprising an elongated and substantially horizontally arranged base having spaced openings adjacent each end of said base, a member at one end extending transverse of and below said base and providing a foot rest having a foot at each end disposed beyond the sides of said base upon which one end of said stand rests and an axle at the other end and also extending transverse of and below said base and having a wheel on each end of said axle, an upright at each end of said base having spaced legs with the legs of one upright projecting through said openings in said base and attached to said member at one end ofsaid base and the legs of the other upright projecting through said openings in said base and attached to said axle at the other end of said base, and clamping means on each upright for detachably and adjustably mounting and supporting the appliance between and upon said uprights and above the base.

4. A mobile stand for supporting a fan or other appliance adapted to be moved about for use at various locations, comprising an elongated and substantially hor-, izonally arranged flat base having a pair of spaced openings adjacent each end thereof, an elongated foot rest extending across said base at one end thereof below one pair of said openings and provided with a foot at each end of the foot rest for supporting one end of the base in elevated position, an axle extending across said baseat the other end thereof below the other pair of said openings and provided with a wheel at each end of the axle for supporting the other end of the base in elevated position and for transporting said stand and appliance upon the wheels when the stand is tilted back upon the wheels, an upright at each end. of the basev and each upright provided with spaced legs projecting through one pair of said openings, means for attaching the lower end of each leg of one upright to an end of the base and foot rest, means for attaching the lower end of each leg of the other upright to the other end of the base and to the axle, and clamping means on each upright for detachably and adjustably mounting and supporting the appliance between and upon said uprights and above the base.

5. A mobile stand as set forth in claim 4, including a Y-shaped bracket having spaced elevated arms at one end each having an opening to receive and through which projects a leg of an upright and a depending arm at the other end afiixed to the base.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Allen Dec. 8, 1891 Orth Aug. 14, 1917 Lenz May 11, 1926 Smith July 14, 1931 Swett Oct. 3, 1950 Illsley Aug. 7, 1956 

